The name "Shōwa" was given to Hirohito after he died. Emperors of Japan are normally renamed in this way; and people started using the new name in 1990.[3] During his long reign, many people outside Japan call him Emperor Hirohito,[4] or just Hirohito.[5]

↑According to Japanese custom, the personal name of a reigning Emperor is not used during his reign; and instead, he is only described as "his Majesty the Emperor" (天皇陛下,Tennō Heika?) or "his current Majesty" (今上陛下,Kinjō Heika?)